Amphibious vehicle suspension

Abstract

An amphibious vehicle, which may plane on water, has at least one pair of front or rear wheels having wheel suspensions fitted with an anti-roll bar ( 46 ). Said bar rotates upwards as the wheels are stowed above the waterline for use of the vehicle on water. The wheels may be driven wheels, and may be steered by pivotable steering link ( 20 ); or passively steered. Anti-roll bar ( 46 ) may be mounted to the vehicle by at least one bearing ( 48 ), so that the bar rotates about a single axis when the wheels are retracted. The bar passes through watertight outside bodywork ( 60 ), where it may be sealed by an elastomeric seal ( 62 ). Said seal may comprise a lip portion ( 72 ), sealing against the bar itself or against a ring or a collar ( 68 ) attached thereto. The ring or collar may be continuously welded around the anti-roll bar.

1. An amphibious vehicle having a hull provided with at least one pair of road wheels, each wheel of the pair being mounted on opposite sides of the vehicle by means of a suspension to the body of the vehicle, the suspension being so arranged as to be enabled by retraction means to retract its wheel upwards into a stowed position, an anti-roll bar being mounted to the body so as to connect a suspension member of each suspension on opposite sides of the vehicle, the anti-roll bar being further arranged to partially rotate from a first position in road mode to a second position in marine mode, wherein the anti-roll bar is sealed within the vehicle by at least one seal. 
   
   
     2. An amphibious vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein said pair of wheels are front wheels. 
   
   
     3. An amphibious vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein said pair of wheels are rear wheels. 
   
   
     4. An amphibious vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein said pair of wheels are steered. 
   
   
     5. An amphibious vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein said pair of wheels are driveably commectable to an engine of the vehicle. 
   
   
     6. An amphibious vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein said pair of wheels are arranged to be stowed above the vehicle waterline when the vehicle is on water. 
   
   
     7. An amphibious vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the anti-roll bar is mounted to the vehicle by means of at least one bearing, so that when the wheels are retracted, the anti-roll bar rotates about a single axis. 
   
   
     8. An amphibious vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the anti-roll bar seal is an elastomeric seal. 
   
   
     9. An amphibious vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the seal has an internal circular lip portion extending outwardly from an inner part of the seal, the lip portion being arranged to seat against the anti-roll bar. 
   
   
     10. An amphibious vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the anti-roll bar is sealed within the vehicle by means of a seal located to a water tight exterior bodywork of the vehicle, and wherein the seal has an internal circular lip portion extending inwardly from an outer part of the seal, the lip portion being arranged to seat against the anti-roll bar. 
   
   
     11. An amphibious vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the seal has an internal circular lip portion extending outwardly from an inner part of the seal, the lip portion being arranged to seat against an annular part extending around the anti-roll bar. 
   
   
     12. An amphibious vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the anti-roll bar is sealed within the vehicle by means of a seal located to a water tight exterior bodywork of the vehicle, and wherein the seal has an internal circular lip portion extending inwardly from an outer part of the seal, the lip portion being arranged to seat against an annular part extending around the anti-roll bar. 
   
   
     13. An amphibious vehicle according to  claim 12 , wherein the annular part is continuously welded to the anti-roll bar. 
   
   
     14. An amphibious vehicle according to  claim 11 , wherein the annular part is continuously welded to the anti-roll bar. 
   
   
     15. An amphibious vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle has a planing body whereby it may be operated as a planing vehicle in marine mode. 
   
   
     16. An amphibious vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the anti-roll bar is linked to the suspension member of each suspension by a link. 
   
   
     17. An amphibious vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the seal is located to a water tight exterior bodywork of the vehicle.